Poetry

Vandals on Egypt

Brad Jackel

 

 (Abu Simbel Temple)

The statues are awful, immense,

Brooding, brutal, overwhelming.

The hieroglyphics are occult,

Enigmatic, clearly profound.

Except,

When you get right down to it:

I smote the Nubians.

I smote the Assyrians.

I had many women.

I had many slaves.

I carved this in stone.

I was Ramses the Great.

Over the top of this, some

Nineteenth century vandal has carved:

I found this place.

I was here.